Container display stand



0w 1942. .c. HVERNE 2,303,344

CONTAINER DISPLAY STAND Filed ug. '1, 194g I AT'roE NEYs Patented Dec. 1, 1942 CONTAINER DISPLAY STAND Charles H. Erne, Maywood, N. J., assigncr to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 7, 1940, Serial No. 351,699

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination holder and display stand adapted to hold boxes or packages of merchandise during shipment and display and constructed to dispense individual boxes when used in display position.

An object of the invention is the provision of a display stand for articles such as filled boxes or packages which may be shipped and displayed in and vended from the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a display stand, produced from a single sheet of metal, with pockets of channels formed therein to hold receptacles of merchandise, whereby the stand serves as a shipping device which is readily convertible into a counter display device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination holder, shipping device and display stand for filled receptacles, such as aspirin boxes, which are held in compartments formed in such a stand and locked therein 'by a slidable, transparent window, which is adapted to be moved to permit withdrawal of individual packages from the stand.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a combination device which is of simple and economicalconstruction and which has an integral part which may be readily bent to serve as a support for the remainder of the device. 7

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a display stand filled with receptacles of merchandise and placed in an inclined display position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken in vertical section substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of the display stand shown in Fig. 1 and extended in condition for shipping;

along line 66 in Fig. 5 showing how tongues may be cut and bent to slidably secure the transparent windows within the display stand.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown in the drawing a display stand H formed from a single substantially rectangular sheet metal blank. The blank is suitably notched at the upper and lower corners l2 and I3 respectively and at intermediate points M to permit the production of a smooth rim fold or hem l5 between the notches on all four edges of the stand.

A plurality of elongated weakening cuts or slots [6 (Figs. 1,2 and 3) are formed in the blank ll and extend transversely thereof betweenthe notching points I4. vThis line of slots provides I a weakened section in the blank H to produce a bottom wall I! which may be bent or folded at any desirable angle relative to a front wall IS.

Figures 1 and 2 show the front and bottom walls bent at an acute angle relative to each other to position the display stand as an attractive counter display. It is understood however that the wall l8 may also be placed in a vertical position, as for example, suspended from a wall, in which case the wall sections l1 and I8 would remain in the same plane as in Fig. 3. Figure '3 also shows the display stand in flat condition before the lower wall I! is bent at an angle. This serves as a desirable shape for shipping purposes, particularly when, a, plurality of stands are stacked upon one another. 7 The wall l1 may also be folded in the opposite direction so that the bottom wall 17 lies fiat against the face of the front wall [8 to reduce the overall length of the stand and to thereby effect economy of space for shipment.

The display stand I l is preferably provided with a plurality of integrally formed depressed or countersunk parallel and substantially rectangular channels or pockets IS, (in the preferred illustration three such pockets are shown) disposed in vertical relation therein to hold a predetermined number of receptacles 2! in juxtaposition beneath the plane of the front wall section l8. The side walls 20 of the channel I 9 are offset outwardly to form support ledges or shoulders 22 defining borders upon opposite sides of the pockets IS].

The shoulders 22 are of suitable depth to slidably retain a transparent window section or other suitable closure 23 which may be slidably operated between the shoulders 22 and a series of retaining tongues 24. The retaining tongues 24 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) are preferably struck from a position so that they are fiush with the outer surface of the wall l8.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified form of producing the retaining tongues 24 by forming them from the front wall I 8 and by bending them substantially parallel with a shoulder 22 and spaced from it to provide a suitable slideway 25 for the transparent window 23.

Each of the pockets I9 is provided with a stop or support 26 at the lower end thereof to hold one or more of the receptacles 2! in display position. A clearance pocket or well 21 is formed below the support of each channel as a continuation of the pockets l9 to provide a clearance for the removal of each receptacle from the display stand. Outer and intermediate finger clearance grooves 28 and 29 respectively (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) are provided adjacent and between the wells 21 to enable the entry of the thumb and index finger of the user to withdraw a receptacle from the display stand.

The intermediate pocket I 9 in Fig. 3 shows the transparent window 23 moved to an upward position to enable the withdrawal of the lowermost receptacle from that pocket. The two outer or right and left pockets (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) show the transparent window 23 in a midway position in order to lock the receptacles within the display stand. When the slides are placed in the positions just described, the stand may be turned into any position without fear of any of the receptacles falling from the stand.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the display stand embodying the present invention is capable of conveniently shipping and storing a predetermined number of receptacles.

In the preferred illustration, the display stand H (Fig. 1) is arranged to hold one dozen receptacles but it need not be limited to that number. The proportion and arrangement of channels formed in the display stand may be altered to decrease or increase the capacity of the stand to suit any particular requirements without departing from the salient features of the invention.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A receptacle holder and display stand comprising a sheet metal plate constituting a front wall section having a depressed countersunk pocket formed therein for receiving a predetermined number of receptacles having their exposed surfaces disposed beneath the plane of said front wall section, support ledges on opposite sides of said pocket and a transparent window element disposed substantially in the plane of said front wall section in engagement with said ledges and slidably retained thereon for holding said receptacles in display position.

2. A receptacle holder and display stand comprising a sheet metal plate constituting a front wall section having a plurality of substantially parallel depressed countersunk pockets integrally formed therein for receiving a predetermined number of receptacles having their outer surfaces disposed within the plane of said front wall section, support ledges on opposite sides of each of said pockets, tongues spaced apart in overhanging relation to said ledges, and a plurality of transparent windows movably interposed between sets of ledges and tongues to hold receptacles in the pockets when said windows are in a mid-position, a said window being capable of sliding movement on its adjacent support ledges to permit removal of a single receptacle at a time from said display stand, each of said windows being disposed substantially in the plane of said front wall section of the display stand.

3. A receptacle shipping container and display stand comprising a sheet metal plate having a plurality of receptacle receiving pockets formed therein, a predetermined number of receptacles within said pockets, support shoulders on opposite sides of said pockets, retaining tongues spaced apart from and overhanging said shoulders, slidable transparent windows interposed between sets of shoulders and tongues to hold the receptacles in the pockets when said windows are in a midway position, and a support at the lower end of each of said pockets to hold a column of juxtaposed receptacles in said pockets while on display and to support remaining receptacles in said pockets when said windows are slid upwardly to withdraw the lowermost receptacle from any of said pockets.

4. A receptacle shipping container and display stand comprising a sheet metal plate having a plurality of receptacle receiving pockets formed therein for the reception of a predetermined number of filled receptacles, support shoulders on opposite sides of said ockets, retaining tongues spaced apart from and overhanging said shoulders, slidable transparent windows interposed between sets of shoulders and tongues to lock the receptacles in the pockets when said windows are in a midway position, supports at the lower end of said pockets to hold a column of juxtaposed receptacles on display in said pockets and clearance wells and grooves provided in said plate beneath and interconnecting said receptacle pockets to facilitate the taking hold of the lowermost receptacle in any of said pockets when said windows are moved upwardly to unlock and permit removal of a single receptacle.

CHARLES H. ERNE. 

